Serian records hazardous API 391, four other Sarawak areas at very unhealthy levels

A hazy sun is seen near the Kuching Waterfront in Kuching. Serian recorded a hazardous API reading of 391, while four other areas in Sarawak registered very unhealthy air quality. — Bernama pic

First Published: Thursday, 03 Sep 2026 8:40 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, September 3 — Air quality continued to deteriorate this afternoon, with Serian in Sarawak recording an Air Pollutant Index (API) of 391, putting it in the hazardous category, while four other areas in the state recorded very unhealthy readings.

Department of Environment (DOE) deputy director-general (Development) Azuri Azizah Saedon said four areas in Sarawak recorded very unhealthy air quality, with Kuching registering an API reading of 285, Sri Aman 275, Samarahan 274 and Sarikei 206.

As of 5pm, 14 areas were classified as having unhealthy air quality, while 45 were at moderate levels and three were in the good category, she said.

Eight areas in Sarawak recorded unhealthy air quality, with Sibu registering an API reading of 180, followed by Mukah (172), Bintulu (166), Samalaju (164), Kapit (157), ILP Miri (153), Limbang (151) and Miri (106).

Other areas recording unhealthy air quality included Politeknik Kota Kinabalu and Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, both at 156, Kimanis (155), Keningau (154), Labuan Federal Territory (157) and Johan Setia in Selangor (127).

“The country’s air quality has deteriorated today, with several areas, especially in Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan, recording API readings ranging from unhealthy to hazardous, influenced by haze moving in from different directions,” she said.

She said that according to an Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) report dated September 2, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 20 satellite imagery detected 795 hotspots in Kalimantan, 144 in Sumatra and three in Malaysia, all in Sarawak.

She said the ASMC Regional Haze Map for the same date showed scattered hotspots across Kalimantan and Sumatra, while moderate to dense transboundary smoke haze covered northern Borneo and parts of the southwestern, western and central Philippines.

“Moderate to dense smoke was also observed originating from clusters of hotspots detected in several areas of Kalimantan and central and southern Sumatra.

“The Asean Secretariat activated Alert Level 3 for the southern Asean region from August 27, 2026 following an increase in hotspot activity and the wider spread of haze, based on ASMC monitoring, assessments and forecasts and in accordance with the Asean MAJER SOP (Asean Standard Operating Procedure for Monitoring Assessment and Joint Emergency Response),” she said.

She said the DOE would continue to monitor air quality through the National Haze Action Plan, with the relevant agencies taking action based on the situation and its developments. — Bernama